Success: This Is How SOM Alumna Mickela Lamb Does It
Mickela is a lifelong Alaskan who enjoys the great outdoors, thrives in a successful corporate career, supports causes she is passionate about, and travels the world. Growing up in rural St. Paul Island, where Mickela learned to speak and dance Aleut, her family relocated to Fairbanks when she was in the 5th grade and she later graduated from Lathrop High School. Mickela enrolled at UAF, and earned a Bachelor in Business Administration specializing in finance. Mickela successfully completed the MBA program at UAF, and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, an honor indicating she was among the top 20% of her MBA class.
Since graduation, Mickela moved to Anchorage to work for BP. In her current position, she stays actively involved with SOM by supporting the Arctic Innovation Competition, the Business Leader of the Year, student recruitment, and as a guest speaker at events and in classes. Mickela has been recognized by BP for her commitment to community service, passion for mentoring, and campus recruitment efforts. Now with BP for over six years, Mickela recently received a promotion as an Information Management Documentation Control Lead, where she maintains documentation for all standard operating procedures. She attributes her growth oriented career at BP to the foundation provided to her by SOM.
SOM provided unique opportunities for Mickela to participate in many experiential learning activities as part of her professional preparation. One fateful day, a BP employee, who was also a UAF alumna, visited her class. The guest spoke about BP, the culture, the opportunities, and what a typical day on the job might be like. Her visit instilled courage and hope in Mickela to apply for a BP internship. Previously, she had thought as a small-town Alaskan, from a local college, that BP would not consider her to be a competitive candidate compared to other internship applicants from Ivy League schools. The rest is history as Mickela was selected for a BP internship. BP continues to demonstrate its commitment to UAF as one of the main campuses from which it recruits.
Now the tables have turned and Mickela is the one visiting UAF classes and inspiring students. Her first piece of advice for students is to take risks, just as she did when she applied for the BP internship. Mickela also encourages students to travel, touting that there is so much to see, learn, taste, experience, and appreciate from other cultures. Before starting that new job, take some time to see the world, because once you start your professional job, it will take a while to build up vacation time. Lastly, Mickela encourages students to enjoy the academic journey. Looking back, Mickela was so focused working and going to school full time that she never slowed down and embraced the college experience. She says you can’t go back once you leave college, once the real “adulting” begins.
“If you are not uncomfortable, you are not growing. Everything you have ever wanted is one step outside of your comfort zone. Believe in yourself; have no regrets!”
Please join Mickela in staying connected to UAF, and give any way you can.
